Saturday, November 27, 2010

Who is reading what book now?

Please share with us what book you are reading!
Tell us all about it!
Laurie

The Red Gloves Collection by Karen Kingsbury

Hi Everyone!
Has anyone ever read "The Red Gloves Collection" by Karen Kingsbury?  I consider it a classic Christmas read!  It is a really thick book!  It contains 4 novellas in one.  They are heart toucing.  I don't consider them to be a 'typical' Karen Kingsbury book.  They are not that long, and were originally published as '4' separate books, all under "The Red Gloves Collection".  Now they are all collected into one big volume called "The Red Gloves Collection".  The different stories are:  Gideon's Gift, Maggies Miracle, Sarah's Song, Hannah's Hope.  They are heartwarming.  Not the usual Karen Kingsbury, like I said.  I kind of like these stories better than her novels she writes now.  Don't get me wrong, I like Karen Kingsbury, but her books are starting to sound somewhat the same, just separate issues people are dealing with.  Does anyone else feel this way?  I think she has gotten into a comfortable nitch, and is staying there.  I feel as if she needs to change her format around and make the books a little more realistic.  That's what I am getting at.  Realistic.  Life is not  a pair of 'rose colored glasses', and that is what I am starting to feel as I am reading her books.  For example, I would hate for a parent with a child suffering with Auspbergers to have the hope that an old playmate could bring their child OUT of the form of Autism they have just because she wrote a book where that happened.  I would remind readers that this is a 'book', a 'story'.  Not generally likely to happen.  But, then again, I could be wrong.  I just wouldn't want to give false hope.  There is SO much they don't know about Autism.  SO many people blame it on childhood immunizations.  Personally, I don't know?  My mother-in-law has a son, or should I say my brother-in-law has Autism, and they are mostly all unreachable, except for a few words.  It is a TOUGH disease to deal with, watching your child wasted away.  It is VERY sad.  I see it in my mother-in-laws eyes all the time.  She wonders and worries what she did wrong.  Right now he is about 38.   Today, there are SO many MORE childen with this disease, it is a shame. 
Any comments???
Laurie

What am I reading now? A Christmas Story!

Hi Everyone!
Now I am reading a Christmas story!
It is called "A Redbird Christmas" by Fannie Flagg.
Everyone knows how funny Fannie Flagg is!  She wrote Fried Green Tomato's.  That is my FAVORITE movie!!!  I could watch it over and over again!  When I am done - I will give a review of this book!   I'll let you know!
Laurie

My Official Review of "Unlocked" by Karen Kingsbury

Hi Everyone!
I finished Unlocked, by Karen Kingsbury, and I enjoyed it.  I don't know how true to real life it is?  A boy with a type of Autism, high-functioning Autism called Auspbergers, comes around when he meets a childhood friend he used to play with.  Here is my 'official' review!

“Unlocked”, by Karen Kingsbury
Book Review:

Zondervan sent me a new, free book by Karen Kingsbury, called ‘Unlocked’, in exchange for me to write a review about her newest ‘life-changing fiction’ book she has written.  This book is a touching story about a young boy who was struck with Asperberger’s Syndrome, (a form of Autism,) at the young age of three.  As a teenager attending regular High School, he begins being drawn out of his ‘locked’ shell by a long, lost, young playmate whom he used to play with as a young boy.  Unknowingly, they meet back up together in High School through music.  She was touched with the magic of the blessings of the Lord, our God, to draw out this young man afflicted with Aspergers... To miss this book is to miss the magic our Lord has working in us in ways we never know until they happen.
Laurie Carlson

If you get a chance to read it, over the Thanksgiving weekend here, I think I saw it on Amazon for $6.99!  Give your review on the site here!  I'd love to hear what you think!!
Laurie

Unlocked, by Karen Kingsbury - The Official Review

“Unlocked”, by Karen Kingsbury
Book Review:

Zondervan sent me a new, free book by Karen Kingsbury, called ‘Unlocked’, in exchange for me to write a review about her newest ‘life-changing fiction’ book she has written.  This book is a touching story about a young boy who was struck with Asperberger’s Syndrome, (a form of Autism,) at the young age of three.  As a teenager attending regular High School, he begins being drawn out of his ‘locked’ shell by a long, lost, young playmate whom he used to play with as a young boy.  Unknowingly, they meet back up together in High School through music.  She was touched with the magic of the blessings of the Lord, our God, to draw out this young man afflicted with Aspergers... To miss this book is to miss the magic our Lord has working in us in ways we never know until they happen.
Laurie Carlson

Friday, November 12, 2010

I got an ARC from Zondervan!!!!

Hi Everyone!
I recieved an ARC - Advanced Reader Copy from Zondervan in the mail about 1 week ago!  I have been busy posting reviews and yes, I have started this new book!
It is:  UNLOCKED by Karen Kingsbury!!!
I should have this book finished and the review done within the next few days and I will make SURE I post it right away!
This book is REALLY good!  It is about a boy who is Autistic.   He is in High School and sees a girl from his childhood that seems to draw him out of his Autism!  We'll see where else the story goes!  I am half way through this book!  I expect to finish it by tomorrow-Friday!  I will write the review and post it asap!  This looks like a book that everyone should read as well.  He is a 'high functioning' Autistic boy who attends High School!  His mother and father both believe and feel that childhood immunizations 'could' have caused his Autism, although they even admit there really is no way of knowing.  Their son had been sick for quite some time, then went to the doctor's for his immunizations.  He got triple the doses to catch-up on them.  After the immunizations, he seemed to go inside of himself. 
We'll see how the rest of the story plays out!
Enjoy your day!
Laurie Carlson

The Outsider by Ann H Gabhart/NEW BOOK REVIEW!

NEW BOOK REVIEW!
The Outsider by Ann H Gabhart
The Outsider by Ann H. Gabhart
This book is about the Shakers.  It is about a young woman by the name of Gabrielle, is the main character, in the prime of her life at the young age of 20.  She had no choice but to join the Shakers because her mother decided to join with her other daughter, Becca, age 7, after her husband who was missing was pronounced dead.
I also wanted to learn more about the Shakers since my knowledge of their religion was almost none.  The most interesting thing I learned was the Kitchen is called the “Bitery”!
The Shakers families all live apart from each other, even if they are married.  There is a building for adult women, men, girls, and boys.  Even if they are married, they live apart in separate buildings, and the parents are away from each other and their children.
A Doctor who is an Outsider is needed by the community.  Gabrielle, only supposed to be looking down at Outsider’s, made eye contact with the young doctor.  This starts to put doubts in her mind as to whether or not she wants to remain a Shaker or not.  She goes through quite an ordeal.
Ann H. Gabhart’s style of writing is so smooth, consistent, and easy to read, you become so immersed in her stories.  This is one novel that is sure to stay with you.

Laurie Carlson